City's Premier League fixtures: Talking Points

The 2017/18 fixtures have been announced and Club journalist Rob Pollard has taken a closer look at some of the stand-out matches.

Opening game

City’s opening game of the season sees them travel to Brighton in what will be The Seagulls’ first-ever Premier League game after their promotion in April.

Not since 1983, the year they last made it to the FA Cup final, have Brighton graced the top flight but having finished second in the Championship last season, Chris Houghton has returned them to the big time.

Interestingly, Brighton’s last top-flight home match was against City 34 years ago.

It is a wonderful game for City’s travelling fans, who will be hoping to enjoy some summer sunshine on the coast while watching their side make a strong start to the new campaign.

City play their first home game of the season a week later against Ronald Koeman’s Everton.

Derby days

Manchester derbies are always highly anticipated fixtures and this season will be no exception.

City travel to Old Trafford on December 9th before hosting United at the Etihad Stadium on April 7th.

The game in December immediately follows this season’s final Champions League group-stage match, and the return in April comes after a potential quarter-final first leg.

United are set to strengthen once again this summer, with Jose Mourinho attempting to assemble a squad that can challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League, while City are looking to finish above their cross-town rivals for the fifth consecutive year.

Manchester supremacy once again looks likely to be a fascinating subplot to the season.

Testing Christmas period

Christmas scheduling in England is notoriously demanding and this season Premier League clubs face four games in nine days.

City begin their festive fixtures at home to Bournemouth on December 23rd, before travelling to newly-promoted Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park are next up on December 30th, with Watford the visitors to the Etihad on New Year’s Day.

Squad rotation will be key during what looks like a testing period.

Arsenal and Chelsea double-header

For the second consecutive season, City will play Arsenal (February 24th) and Chelsea (March 3rd) in back-to-back matches.

And either side of the double header are potential Champions League last-16 first and second legs.

Should City find themselves in the knock-out phase of Europe’s elite competition, they face a difficult two-week period that could go a long way in determining their chances of silverware for the season.

Run-in

If City are in contention for the title with four games remaining, they will fancy their chances of getting over the line.

After away games with Everton and Tottenham and the home game with Manchester United, Pep Guardiola’s side play Swansea (H), West Ham (A), Huddersfield (H) and Southampton (A) in their final four matches.